Pampa de Anta Trails

Introduction
Cusco Peru
Ride through the crops of the Pampa de Anta, surrounded by beautiful mountains and ancient Inca sites.

Some of the highlights of this trip include a visit to the Yanahuara Inca cemetery, a tour of the Salinas de Maras and a stop at the archeological site of Moray.
During this tour, you will also learn more about the people that inhabit the area and ride through splendid sacred mountains.

Accomodation

Accommodations
This is a progressive ride where nights are spent in different locations.

Description
You will be accommodated in small hotels and lodges. Please, note that facilities are usually shared.

Accommodation Itinerary - subject to changes based on availability
Night 1: Guesthouse in Misminay
Night 2 & 3: Lodge in Compone



Guesthouse in Misminay
You will be accommodated in a simple but comfortable private rooms.



Lodge in Compone
You will sleep in wooden cabins close to a forest, at the border of the village. Rooms are usually private but might have to be shared.

Casa Andina Hotel in Cusco (optional extra night)
This charming hotel is ideally located in the heart of Cusco. It offers 93 comfortable and elegantly decorated rooms, each equipped with a safety box, heating, coffee kit, TV, free Wi-Fi access and a private bathroom with hairdryer. Check-in starts at noon.

Casa Andina Hotel in Urubamba (optional extra night)
This beautiful hotel located in the Sacred Valley provides rooms that feature cable TV, heating, ensuite bathroom and free Wi-Fi access. The hotel has a small garden where guest can relax in the evening.

Room Occupancy
In case we are unable to find you a roommate, a single supplement fee might apply. Please, note that accommodation for single travelers are not guaranteed at all locations.



Meals
All meals are included in your package from lunch on Day 1 to lunch on the last day.

All your meals are prepared by our cook who follows along the tour with our support vehicle (transporting suitcases).
The food served features Peruvian and international cuisine.

The meals are served buffet style so everyone can choose what they want to eat.

Plenty of drinking water will be provided during the rides.

Dietary Restrictions
We can cater to most dietary restrictions with advanced notice.

This trip includes and can accommodate special dietary requests.

Riding


For the protection of all participants, the ride leader reserves the right to prevent anyone from riding who displays insufficient ability, or whose behavior endangers the safety of other riders, themselves, or the horses. No refund will be made to a participant who is rejected for any such reason, or who is unwilling or unable to complete a tour.

Horses
We have 20 Peruvian Paso horses which are known for their smooth gait and elegance. We have horses with different temperaments that can cater to all levels of rider.
The Peruvian Paso Horse transmits its unique smooth gait to its purebred foals. No artificial devices or special training aids are necessary to enable the horse to perform the “Paso llano”, that provides a ride of incomparable smoothness.

Itinerary


Sample Itinerary - subject to changes

Day 1: Ride to Misminay
This ride begins at a height of 2,828 meters above sea level in the town of Paucarbamba, where our hacienda is located. Upon your arrival at our facilities (around 9 am), you will receive instruction and recommendations before the tour.
We should start riding at about 10 am. We will cross a wooden suspension bridge and continue along the valley floor on the right bank of the Vilcanota River. The eucalyptus trees that grow on the banks of the river will be our witnesses until we reach one of the largest Inka cemeteries of its time, located on the cliffs of the town of Yanahuara.
Shortly after crossing the town of Yanahuara, we will arrive at the suspension bridge of Tarabamba, where we register to enter the Salinas de Maras. The path to the Salinas is rocky, narrow and steep, which is why we go slowly until we reach the salt complex. There, we will dismount and take a walking tour of the complex.
Then, it is time to get back in the saddle and ride uphill to the beautiful Andean town of Maras, where we will enjoy our first lunch with a view of the Chicón and San Juán snow-capped mountains.
After lunch, we ride along a picturesque bridle path that will lead us to the town of “Misminay”, where our hosts will receive us in the ancestral style.
Meals included: Lunch & Dinner
Overnight in Misminay

Day 2: Misminay to Compone
After breakfast at about 9 am, we will have a farewell ceremony by the local people, amid songs and ancient dances. We aim to be back in the saddle for 10 am. We will ride to a viewpoint from where we can appreciate the most important Inka agricultural laboratory of its time “Moray” with wonderful views of the Sacred Valley. The first part of today’s ride will be downhill for about twenty minutes, and after crossing a small ravine, we will start climbing the next summit again in the middle of a dense eucalyptus forest and through potato fields.
We will stop for lunch (around 1 pm) in an open field surrounded by an eucalyptus forest.
After reaching the highest point of this day’s ride, we will begin a ride down to the community of Chaquepay and its peculiar and picturesque surroundings. Huarocondo, shows a great influence of Spanish culture with its cathedral church built at the beginning of the 16th century. Today's destination is the town of Compone, where we will spend the night in a lodge.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Overnight at Lodge in Compone

Day 3: Mountain Ride
We start the day by an uphill ride to the summit of one of the Apus (mountain deity) in the area. At the top, we will see the most important pre-Inka cemetery of the region, where Killke pottery remains scattered throughout. The panoramic view from this place is indescribable since we enjoy a panoramic view over the entire Pampa de Anta. After visiting this funerary area, we will go to the Yuraq Qaqa rocks. These rock formations have a volcanic origin.
After lunch, we go for a small walk in the mountain. Then, it is time to get back to the saddle and ride back to Compone, where we spend a second night.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Overnight at Lodge in Compone

Day 4: Last Ride
This morning, we will cross the Pampa de Anta plain towards the towns of Markjo and Huerta with its beautiful eucalyptus forest. We will stop for lunch in Huerta. 
Shortly after resuming the afternoon ride, we will arrive in Mahuaypampa, which welcomes us with its potato fields. This town has a name that translated into Spanish means “early potato” which makes us think that it was perhaps the first place where the potato was grown because of its location very close to Moray.
We then ride to Maras with its colonial streets adorned by stone gates. Already halfway down towards the valley floor, we will see the majestic Sacred Valley of the Inkas for the last time, from a viewpoint located just in front of the town of Yanahuara.
We expect to be back at the Hacienda for 5:30 pm.
Meals included: Breakfast & Lunch

Note: If you wish to extend your stay in Peru, we suggest to sign up for the Machu Picchu Mountain Lodges Ride.

Rates and Dates for Pampa de Anta Trails

Dates Note: It is possible to arrange tours for private groups on request (private group fee applies)

Other Info
Meeting: Urubamba
Airport: Cusco
Transfer: Cusco or Sacred Valley

Climate:
                                                Cusco area